CDMSBL Matinee Division

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Highlights and fun facts from our games played, and news about upcoming games and events.

BTW you can find more info on the Matinee Division including our schedule on our Division website at the following link:

https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=matineedivision

GAME RECAPS FOR 2025 BELOW

Matinee Game 20, 10/29

Matinee Players,

On a crisp Fall afternoon today, the Matinee Division concluded the 2025 season with an outstanding game ending with a bottom of the ninth walk-off victory for DB’s Bad Guys! Mike Girard for McQ’s team and Ron Massaroni for DB’s team squared off on the hill and both pitchers were on their games! Paul Scuteri led off the game for McQ’s team with a solid single and came around to score on a Dave Mitchell Sac Fly to give McQ’s team the early lead. McQ’s team then added a second run in the top of the second and DB’s team answered with one of their own and the game proceeded to the bottom of the fourth with McQ’s team in front 2-1. Bob Altobelli then doubled in the gap for DB’s team and Pat Alston drove him in with a solid single and the game was knotted at two. After a scoreless fifth inning McQ’s team pushed across another run in the sixth on consecutive two-out singles by Scuteri, PJ Martone and Mitchell. DB’s team then scored two runs in the bottom of the inning on singles by Dave Reed, Jerry Rosen and Altobelli, and DB’s team took their first lead 4-3. In the top of the seventh McQ’s team scored the tying run on a safety squeeze, and the game was again tied. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth, still tied at four when Altobelli led off the inning with his third hit of the game and was eventually driven home on a game-ending single by Dan Durback and the Bad Guys walked off with the hard-fought 5-4 victory! A great way to end the 2025 season!

We also posed for a season-ending picture (see attached) and recognized two of our regular Matinee players who were just elected to the CDMSBL Hall of Fame. Both Pat Alston and Dave Mitchell have had illustrious careers in our league and will now be forever part of the CDMSBL Class of 2025 Hall of Fame. Both great players will be honored at our next League Banquet to be held sometime in early 2026!

As we concluded our 2025 Matinee Division season today here are a few highlights:

We played 20 Matinee games this year (the most ever) from late May to late October with great weather and only two games rained out all season.

Almost 60 different players participated in Matinee Games this year and hopefully we’ll have additional players join us next year.

We played two 10 inning games, ten 9 inning games, four 8 inning games, three 7 inning games and one 6 inning game (due to rain)

We again played one of our Matinee games in historic Cooperstown on Doubleday field and enjoyed a post-game meal at Doubleday Café.

We again held our annual BBQ game at the A Diamond as well as a couple of additional games where we enjoyed post-game hot dogs. (Thanks Jerry)

As always, we enjoyed our weekly post-game Matinee cooler sessions where the beers are cold and the laughs and snacks are plentiful.

Despite yearly rising field and umpire costs, we were again able to keep our per game fee at $10 due to your annual registration fees, and our budget will remain in the black once again this year.

We again held very competitive games most weeks, while still having fun and providing preparation for Divisional and Tournament games.

I want to personally thank Don Ball for stepping up to manage the Bad Guys this year as well as organizing every other game throughout the season. With his other duties as Manager of the 55 Dodgers and running our Fall Ball games, as well as working with Dennis Lane on Watervliet field preparations, Don has become one of the most important individuals in the success of the entire CDMSBL. With Jimmy K. back in the fold next year our Management team will be stronger than ever!

I also want to thank Harold Jenkins who updates our Matinee Division website with our weekly recaps, pictures, schedule, and other information. For your reference here is the link to our website: CDMSBL Matinee Division - (Catskill, NY) - powered by LeagueLineup.com

Enjoy the offseason and Good Luck to all those heading to Florida to represent the CDMSBL in the National Tournaments!! We’ll be back in touch with you all in early 2026 to prepare for another Matinee season.

Thank You all for supporting the Matinee Division!

Jim

Matinee Game 19, 10/22

Matinee Players,

Once the early morning rain moved out, the skies again cleared perfectly for our second-to-last Matinee game of the year as McQ’s team prevailed 6-5 in 10 innings today. DB’s team struck first in the top of the second with two runs as Rick Saidenberg, Ron Massaroni, Dave Reed, Paul Cerone and Dan Durback all had hits in the inning. Jimmy K. was able to minimize the damage as he was able to end the inning and get out of a bases-loaded jam with a 1-2-3 double play. DB’s team then added a third run in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead on singles by Don Ball and Durback. After the first batter reached on an error in the bottom of the fourth for McQ’s team, they rattled off three consecutive singles by PJ Martone, Bob Altobelli and Dave Mitchell and once the inning was over the score was tied at three. McQ’s team then took their first lead of the game in the fifth as Tom Bain hit a two out triple and Carlos Espada delivered him with a double. The game preceded to the eighth inning when DB’s team tied the score at four as Saidenberg led off with a double and Reed drove him home with a double of his own. McQ’s team quickly answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI double by Martone and the game went to the ninth with McQ’s team needing just three outs to close it out. After one out, Jack Griffin laced a single and promptly stole second putting the tying run in scoring position. A fly out to center recorded the second out of the inning but Jerry Rosen then stroked a clutch RBI single to send the game to the bottom of the ninth again tied. After McQ’s team was unable to push a run across, the game then preceded to extras. Following MLB rules a ghost runner was placed on second base for DB’s team but Carlos Espada was able to retire the side stranding the runner and the game went to the bottom of the tenth still tied at five. A fielder’s choice moved the ghost runner to third for McQ’s team and then a somewhat unexciting wild pitch/passed ball ended the game. All-in all a great game to help prepare us for Florida!

For DB’s team Rosen, Saidenberg, Massaroni, Reed, Ball and Durback all had multiple hits while Martone had three hits for McQ’s team. Ron Massaroni, Don Ball, Jerry Rosen and Dan Durback all pitched well for DB’s team while Jimmy K. and Espada both pitched five innings each with Espada getting the win for McQ’s team.

We also once again enjoyed a special cooler session with some hot dogs after the game courtesy of Jerry Rosen. (See attached pictures)

Our last Matinee game of the 2025 season is scheduled for next Wednesday Oct. 29^th so look for an email from Don Ball asking for your hopeful participation. We will continue to watch the weather for next week and stay in touch.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 18, 10/15

Matinee players,

Sorry, I only have one score book from Wednesday's game. I could make up some details about how my team scored two runs in nine innings! Ugh. Instead, I will share some general comments.

First, 21 players dug out their long sleeves, wind breakers and batting gloves to defy Mother Nature's attempt to chase us away from the A Diamond. Girard, Durbak and Jimmy K held the Bad Guys to just two runs while Knipper, Ball and Massaroni held the Good Guys to 8 runs. All in all a pretty well-played game without any ugly, multi-run innings.

Kevin Carpenter had three hits, including a broken bat single in his first AB. Kevin was the second batter of the game. With the temperature hovering just above 50, most of grabbed our BP bats from our bags.

Guest player, Bob Altobelli, filled right field with a few line drives (only to be left wondering where the rest of our offense went).

Jimmy K squared up one of my "fastballs" and all Kevin Carpenter could do was turn around and run to the LF fence to retrieve the ball.

I'm not sure how many backwards steps the Good Guy outfielders take when Pat Alston steps up to the plate but I do believe that they had to show their passports when they returned to our zip code for the next batter!

Jimmy Mac will run the show next week. It would be great to squeeze another game or two out of this Matinee season.

Don Ball

Matinee Game 17, 10/08

Matinee Players,

After heavy overnight and early morning rain moved out, the skies cleared for our annual BBQ Matinee game as DB’s team cruised to a 12-9 victory. DB’s team put up six runs in the second and five more in the third to seemingly put this game away early. Singles by Dan Durback, Tom Bain, Rick Saidenberg and PJ Martone in the second and Don Ball, Dave Reed, Carlos Espada, Dave Mitchell, and Bain again in the third keyed the early onslaught. While DB’s team only scored one more run the rest of the way, McQ’s team scored single runs in the second, third, fourth, fifth and eighth to keep the game within reach and then after multiple big runs in the bottom of the ninth, McQ’s team actually brought the tying run to the plate with two outs but Jerry Rosen’s frozen rope to left was run down by Rick Saidenberg and the ball game was over.

For DB’s team Espada, Saidenberg, Mitchell, Martone, Ball all had multiple hits while Tom Bain was a perfect 4-4. For McQ’s team Paul Scutieri, Rosen, Pat Alston, Mike Clary, Ron Massaroni, and Tom Maney all had multiple hits..

Check out the attached pictures of our after-game BBQ where we enjoyed burgers, dogs and lots of other foods.

Our next Matinee game is scheduled for next Wednesday Oct. 15^th so look for an email from Don Ball asking for your hopeful participation.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 15, 9/24

Matinee Players,

Despite persistent and annoying light rain the Matinee Division played our fifteenth game of the season today with McQ’s team coming away with a 14-7 victory. The game was close early as McQ’s team struck first in the opening inning aided by a couple of walks and an RBI single by Mike Clary to take the early 2-0 lead. DB’s team answered right back in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead with the big hit coming off the bat of Manager Don Ball, who laced a two-run double down the left field line. McQ’s team scored a single run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Carlos Espada and then two more in the third, while DB’s team scored another run in the top of the third and the game went to the pivotal fourth inning with McQ’s team holding a precarious 5-4 lead. After DB’s team failed to score in the top of the inning, McQ’s team scored five big runs in the bottom of the inning and then four more runs in the fifth to turn the game into a runaway. PJ Martone, Rick Saidenberg, and Espada had RBI doubles to spark the two innings. Jerry Rosen and Ted Valenti had two hits each for DB’s team while Don Ball continued raking with three hits on the day. For McQ’s team Espada, Saidenberg, Clary, Dan Durback, Tom Bain, and Dave Plew had multiple hits.

Our next Matinee game is in Cooperstown next Wednesday Oct. 1^st and then we will hold our annual BBQ game at the A Diamond the following Wednesday Oct. 8^th. After our Cooperstown game look for an IN or OUT email from Don Ball for the BBQ game and we’ll also ask for players to bring a shared food item as well. We will provide the grills and all the hot dogs, hamburgers, shrimp, rolls and condiments.

We are also going to ask each player for $20 for the BBQ week instead of $10 to help us with our budget. For full transparency, we pay our umpires $110 for each game while the A Diamond charges $125 per game. At $10 per player, along with the Managers who do not pay, we technically “lose” money almost every game, thus the need to leverage your yearly registration fee to not only pay our Administrative costs but to also offset our weekly costs. We have been successful in each of our past six years in finishing the year with a surplus and hope to achieve that again this year.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 14, 9/17

Matinee Players - Today was double-down day at the Matinee as most of the runs were driven in by two-base hits.

The Good Guys jumped out early as Cerone walked, Scorsone ROE and Rosen doubled down the right field line to drive them home. Jerry went with the pitch. Stuck his bat out and hit it where we weren't. The Bad Guys were back at it in the 2^nd as McQuade and Carpenter walked and Knipper doubled down the left field line for two RBIs. Rick's was more of a traditional swinging line drive to where we weren't.

The Bad Guys finally took their wood bats out in the 4^th as Alston doubled, Bain walked and Ball doubled down the left field line to cut the lead in half. Ball's line drive only bounced 17 times and rolled another ten feet before caroming off the fence.

The Good Guys answered right back in the top of the 5th. With two outs, Jimmy K and Cerone singled. Scorsone sent a line drive into the LF corner for a double and two RBI. Rosen and Mitchell then poked singles to plate TJ. Getting back on theme in the 6^th McQuade singled and scored on Carpenter's double to the opposite field. Carpenter's double was a lot more impressive than Rosen or Mitchell's singles.

The Bad Guys enjoyed a short rally in the 7^th as Jimmy K (who traded himself back to the Bad Guys), Valenti, Plew and Espada hit two-out singles to score three runs.

The Good Guys answered right back again a Reed walked and was doubled to 3^rd by McQuade.. A misplayed fly ball to CF brought Reed home.

The Bad Guys kept battling and scored once in the 8^th on a double by Martone followed by singles by Clary and Ball. They scored one more in the 9^th on singles by Valenti and Plew and an RBI FC by Espada. A nicely turned 4-6-3 ended the game.

Final score. McQuade's Good Guys 11 Ball's Bad Guys 7.

The forecast looks great for next week. Jimmy Mac will send out the invitations soon. We hope to see both dugouts full for our first Matinee game of the Fall.

Don Ball

Matinee Game 13, 9/10

Matinee Players,

We were again blessed with another spectacular sunny Matinee Day as we held our thirteenth game of the season today but unfortunately the game was not as spectacular as McQ’s team cruised to a 12-3 victory. After a scoreless first inning McQ’s team jumped in front 3-0 in the bottom of the second with the big hit coming off the bat of Tom Maney who drilled a 2-run single. In the bottom of the third, aided by a few errors, McQ’s team then added six more runs to put this game away early. Singles by Dave Mitchell, Carlos Espada, Paul Cerone and Dave Reed keyed the big inning. Mike Kane, Don Ball, Tom Bain and Jim Jazz had multiple hits on the day for DB’s team while Espada, Cerone, Reed, and Mike Clary had multiple knocks for McQ’s team.

While the game was a bust the post-game cooler session was a big hit as Jerry Rosen treated us to hot dogs and cheddar brats (see attached pic) Thanks Jerry!!

The Matinee Division continues next Wednesday the 17th so keep an eye out for our next IN or OUT email from Donny Ball and please respond promptly.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 12, 9/3

Matinee Players,

On an absolutely gorgeous sunny morning the Matinee Division held our twelfth game of the season today and just like last week one inning made a big difference in this tightly contested game.

Carlos Espada led off the game for McQ’s team with a single and then after two outs were recorded, Dave Mitchell delivered Espada with a long triple. Mitchell then scored on a wild pitch and McQ’s team had the early 2-0 lead. DB’s team went down quickly,1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning and McQ’s team failed to score in the top of the second, setting up the “big” bottom of the second inning for DB’s team. After a quick out was recorded, the next six players reached base and came around to score giving DB’s team the 6-2 lead. Singles by Mike Clary, Paul Cerone, Don Ball, Tom Bain and Rick Knipper keyed the inning. McQ’s team chipped away at the lead with a single run in the fourth and two more in the sixth and suddenly the lead was down to a single run. DB’s team added a run in the bottom of the seventh and McQ’s team answered with a single run in the top of the eighth, and the game went to the bottom of the inning with DB’s team clinging to a 7-6 lead. Kevin Carpenter and Ron Massaroni started the inning with singles and after recording an out, McQ’s team decided to walk the very dangerous Pat Alston to load the bases. After a routine fly ball out, the stage was set for McQ’s team to either escape the inning unscathed or for DB’s team to add to their lead with a big two-out hit. Paul Cerone then stepped to the plate and delivered a crushing bases-clearing double to essentially salt the game away. Don Ball added an RBI single and DB’s team had an 11-6 lead heading into the ninth. McQ’s team had the first two batters reach base, but a 6-4-3 double play and a ground out ended the game.

Espada, Mitchell and Rick Saidenberg had multiple hits for McQ’s while Carpenter, Cerone, Ball and Joe Kosek all had multiple hits for DB’s team.

The Matinee Division continues next Wednesday the 10th so keep an eye out for our next IN or OUT email from me and please respond promptly.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 11, 8/27

Matinee Players,

On a sunny morning with a hint of Fall in the air the Matinee Division held our eleventh game of the season today and as is the case at times in baseball, one inning was the difference. Carlos Espada led off the game for DB’s/JK’s team with a single and then after two outs were recorded, Rick Saidenberg walked. Espada was then driven home by Mike Clary and Saidenberg was driven in by Dave Reed, and DB’s team had the early 2-0 lead. McQ’s team answered back with a single run in the bottom of the first and another in the second, and the game went to the third knotted at two. Espada was at it again in the top of the inning as he led off with a double and PJ Martone followed with a booming double of his own scoring Espada. Martone eventually came around to score and DB’s team was ahead again 4-2. McQ’s team scored a single run in the bottom of the inning and then both teams scored two in the fourth, as the game went to the decisive fifth inning with DB’s team clinging to a 6-5 lead. In the top of the fifth, after the first two batters were retired, DB’s team loaded the bases but Mike Kane was able to induce his patented 1-3 putout, and the scoring chance was extinguished. In the bottom half of the inning McQ’s team then unloaded with five huge runs, highlighted by a bases-clearing three run double by Ron McCarthy and suddenly McQ’s team was in front 10-6. There would be no more scoring in the game as pitchers for both sides clamped down and McQ’s team walked away with the 10-6 victory.

Dennis Lane, Mike Kane and Ron Massaroni all pitched well for McQ’s team, while Clary, Espada and Rick Knipper toed the slab for JK’s team. Espada, Saidenberg, Clary, Dave Reed, Ted Valenti and Joe Kosak all had multiple hits for JK’s team. Paul Cerone, Tom Hayes, Pat Alston, Jim McQuade, Tom Maney, Tom Bain and Kane all had multiple hits for McQ’s team while Ron McCarthy went 4-4.

The Matinee Division continues next Wednesday so keep an eye out for our next IN or OUT email from Donny Ball for this game. We expect attendance will be much improved in September and October so please respond promptly.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 10, 8/13

In a game that started on a hot and sunny A Diamond, the Post men, Paul and his nephew, Brian, had a field day against the Bad Guys pitching. Brian led off the game with a line drive single and he had some of us wondering if we hit like that when we were younger. Paul followed with a line drive of his own and they were soon lighting up the score board. Hitting must be contagious because the rest of the Good Guys jumped on the merry-go-round. All the Bad Guys could do was to keep throwing the ball back into the infield.

No. Really. That's all the Bad Guys could do. The first nine Bad Guy batters went hitless. We did not score until the 4^th inning and the Good Guys enjoyed an expanding lead. Secretly, some of us were hoping that the cloud looming over the outfield would open up. And our prayers were answered.

First, a short delay for thunder and lightning. Then, the big boomer and some heavy rain and it was time to go home. Disappointing for the 26 players who were enjoying the game. But, the A Diamond will be there on the 27^th and so will we!

Next week the Matinee Division will make its annual trip to Cooperstown. Jimmy K is in charge of that trip. Jimmy Mac will be in touch for our next "home" game on the 27th. We will hope to have a couple dozen players for that one.

Don Ball

Matinee Game 9, 8/6

On an overcast but baseball-perfect warm summer morning the Matinee Division held our ninth game of the season today, and this one turned into one of the best games of the year, despite the lowest number of players we have had this year. DB’s team struck quickly in the opening half of the first with two runs as Don Ball drove in one, while the other was unearned on an errant throw from the borrowed left fielder, who will remain nameless. MCQ’s team answered right back with two of their own in the bottom half, and the game was knotted at two apiece. Single runs by both teams in the second and the game moved to the third, tied at three. With outstanding pitching and solid defense, the game remained tied at three until the bottom of the sixth when McQ’s team scored two to take a 5-3 lead. Singles by Carlos Espada and Mike Clary paved the way. With the low attendance it was agreed to only play seven innings today so McQ’s team needed just three outs to secure the victory, however DB’s team would not go down quietly. Back-to-back singles by Dan Hernandez and Dennis Lane to open the inning put the tying runs on base with no outs, but Jimmy K. was able to shut the door and retire the next three hitters, and the Good Guys walked away with the victory.

The game marked the season debut of Hall of Famer Tom Maney who is still recovering from back surgery. Also joining us for the first time this year was Dennis Lane and Tom Hayes who are both off from work for the summer. Tom unfortunately suffered an ankle injury diving back to third on a pickoff attempt and we hope he will be OK for the remainder of our season and his 45 Mets’ season.

A correction.The errant throw in the first inning was in the bottom of the inning that allowed McQ’s team to score not DB’s team. (You would think I would know)

The Matinee Division resumes next Wednesday so keep an eye out for our next IN or OUT email from Donny Ball for this game. Attendance is expected to greatly improve so please respond promptly.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Game 8, 7/30

Afternoon all,

There's been a lot of chatter regarding yesterday's matinee game which has been extremely helpful for me in trying to remember and list all the highlights. In no way will this be of the 2 Jim's or Donny's caliber of reporting but I'll do my best.

Let's start with what a beautiful summer day we had, sunny and 82 degrees with a soft gentle wind blowing from the west with low humidity. Donny got there early to put together two talented competitive teams to face off. Thank you Don.

Highlights:

Jimmy K piches 5 strong innings leaving the game with a 9-5 lead good guys in the 7th. .

Ronny Mazz made three force plays to third in one inning going deep in the hole for all three, never seen it happen in my 56 years of Baseball.

The good guys pounded the ball with everyone contributing for a 14-7 winn.

PJ Martone and Jim Wing caught 9 innings in the heat and both played an excellent defensive game.

PJ was the offense stallworth for Donny B's club with two doubles and three RBI's.

All in all a great day for Matinee baseball, look forward to seeing you all next week.

Look for an E-mail requesting a head count for next week.

Matinee Game 7, 7/16

Breaking News - The Dedicated, Fantastic team dug themselves an early hole and couldn't get out.

Yes. It was warm but 21 studs showed up and played a relatively quick, eight-inning game at the A Diamond. McQ's team put up a five spot in the 2^nd inning as Reed singled, Bain doubled and the top of the order -Jazz, Rosen and Mitchell hit consecutive singles to light up the score board. The DFs managed 2 runs off Jimmy K to keep the game tight through four innings.

The top of the 5^th was the turning point as McQs men rallied for four runs despite a 6-4-3 DP in the middle of the rally. Durbak, Reed, Bain and Jimmy Jazz all hit safely in the frame. (A shout out to Jimmy Jazz who played well and fearless despite being schedule for thumb surgery on Friday. If I had known that ahead of time,, I would have put him on the Dedicated, Fantastic team for sure!!)

Dan Durback pitched a few scoreless innings to send my team back to our defensive positions. Meanwhile, I pitched the 6th, 7^th and 8^th innings and was supported by a diving catch in CF by Capt. McCarthy and two double plays in the infield. We turned four double plays over eight innings. Matinee games are well played.

final scores

McQ's team10

DB's team 2

Don Ball

Matinee Game 6, 7/09

On another beautiful warm summer morning the Matinee Division held our sixth game of the season, and this one turned into an instant classic! DB’s team started right out of the gate with two runs in the top of the first as Carlos Espada led off with a single, followed by a walk to PJ Martone and consecutive singles by Mike Girard and Dave Mitchell. Alex Marin followed with an RBI Sac Fly and McQ’s team luckily escaped with only letting up the two runs. McQ’s team answered right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of it’s own as Greg Mangione, TJ Scorsone, Jerry Rosen and Mike Clary all singled in the inning. While DB’s team then went scoreless in the next four frames, McQ’s team added a run in the fourth and then another in the fifth, highlighted by a booming triple by Pat Alston and an RBI single by Mike Clary and the game went to the sixth with McQ’s team leading 4-2. Girard doubled in a single run in the sixth for DB’s team and then they scored three more in the seventh, on a unique three-run single by Martone and suddenly DB’s team led 6-4. McQ’s team was not fazed however by giving up the lead and proceeded to score single runs in the seventh and eighth innings and the game went to the ninth knotted at six! After a scoreless ninth, for the first time in Matinee Division history, the game went to extra innings as we followed MLB rules and started the 10^th with a man on second. In the top of the inning Carlos Espada promptly stole third and was delivered by another PJ Martone single and DB’s team took the 7-6 lead into the bottom of the inning. Mike Girard then retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning and DB’s team walked away with the victory.

Espada, Martone, Girard, Dan Durback and Donny Ball all had multiple hits for DB’s team while Mangione, Alston, Clary, Jim McQuade and Paul Cerone had multiple hits for McQ’s team.

The game was also special as we had Hall of Famers Randy Craft and Tom Maney join us for the game and an extended cooler session (see attached pictures)

The Matinee Division resumes next Wednesday so keep an eye out for our next IN or OUT email from Donny Ball for this game.

Thanks

Jim

Matinee Players, Game 4, 6/11

Matinee Players,

Another Matinee Game today, another beautiful day for baseball and another somewhat one-sided affair as DB’s team continued a three-game win streak and walked away with a 12-7 victory at the A Diamond in Schenectady. TJ Scorsone and Mike Clary squared off on the mound and both pitched a scoreless first inning. DB’s team then had a big second inning as they pushed across five runs to take the early lead. Singles by Ron Massaroni, John Cortese, Ralph Caputo and Dave Reed highlighted the inning. While McQ’s team remained scoreless, DB’s team pushed across another single run in the fourth and then three more runs in the fifth to take a seemingly safe 9-0 lead. MCQ’s team however would not go down quietly as they scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth, four more runs in the sixth and then two more in the seventh, and suddenly the lead was down to 9-7. Three big runs by DB’s team in the top of the ninth then salted the game away.

Carlos Espada, Clary, and Dan Durback had multiple hits for McQ’s team, while Jerry Rosen, Massaroni, Scorsone, Cortese, Caputo, Reed and Jim Jazz had multiple hits for DB’s team.

Game five will be played next Wednesday the 18^th so look for our next IN or OUT email message from me and please reply promptly.

Jim

Matinee Players, Game 3, 6/4

Despite the best of intentions, for the third week in a row the Matinee Division game resulted in a one-sided affair as DB’s team rolled to a 7-1 victory. Ron Massaroni and Don Ball started on the mound for their respective teams and the difference in this game was Ball’s pitching, as well as a multitude of his other pitchers, who shut down McQ’s team and limited them to a single run and only seven hits. PJ Martone was the only player on McQ’s team with multiple hits. DB’s team started early with a run in the first on an RBI single by Jerry Rosen and then scored three more in the second inning. Dave Reed, Mike Aiello and Tom Bain had the big hits in the inning to plate the runs. DB’s team then added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to put this game away. Aiello, Reed, Rick Saidenberg and Jim Jazz had multiple hits on the day for DB’s team.

Just a slight correction. Dan Durbak pitched the first inning and Mike Clary pitched the second for the ad Guys. DB waited until the 6th and 7th to shut down the Good Guys.

Hope to see you all next week.

Game four will be played next Wednesday the 11^th so look for our next IN or OUT email message from Donny Ball and please reply promptly.

Jim

Matinee Players, Game 2, 5/28

Matinee Players - Under ideal weather conditions for baseball, the Bad Guys broke out the lumber to even the season series at one game apiece.

Jimmy K limited the Bad Guys to just 3 runs over the first three innings. But Carlos Espada got the start for the Bad Guys and held the Good Guys to just 3 runs over his four innings on the bump. The 4^th inning was turning point as the Bad Guys batted around and ran around the bases to score 8 runs on 8 hits (Saidenberg, Reed, Durbak, Cerone, Bain, Ball, Espada, Martone and Alston). Just to show that it wasn't a fluke, the #7 thru #11 batters for the Bad Guys scored 4 more runs in the 5th.

The Good Guys made a little noise in the bottom of the 5^th as Jimmy Jazz, Careccia, Brown and Rosen singled and scored. Unfazed, Bad Guy hurler Ralph Caputo induced a ground ball that Espada, Reed and Alston turned into a 6-4-3, inning ending double play. That would end the scoring for the afternoon as both teams tightened their glove laces and played error-free baseball for three innings.

Final score: Bad Guys 15 Good Guys 8 Donny Baseball earns his first victory as a Matinee manager!

The first four batters for Jimmy Mac (Careccia, Brown, Rosen and Hernandez) all had multiple hit games and Joe Careccia only got thrown out at home once. For the Bad Guys, PJ Martone was 4-4 in the batter's box and rock solid behind the dish. Espada, Marin, Saidenberg, Caputo, Durbak, Cerone and Bain had multiple hit games for the Bad Guys. Dave Reed made two very nice plays at 2B for the Bad Guys.

The weather forecast looks great for next week. Keep your eyes open for Jimmy Mac's invitation for our first game in June. If the Bad Guys win again, we are all going to go out and get tattoos!

Don Ball

Matinee Players, Game 1, 5/21

The 2025 Matinee Division kicked off our seventh season today on an overcast day at the A Diamond in Schenectady under somewhat cool temperatures, but all in all it was not a bad day. The fireworks started immediately in the top of the first as McQ’s team started the game with four consecutive hits, one each from Carlos Espada, Tim Brown, Jerry Rosen and Joe Parker. After Jimmy K. added another single in the inning, McQ’s team led 3-0. DB’s team answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by singles from Rick Saidenberg and Pat Alston. McQ’s team then put up another three runs in the top of the second with singles from Paul Cerone and Kevin Carpenter and took the early 6-2 lead, which stayed that way until the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth McQ’s team exploded for five more runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Ron McCarthy on his 60^th Birthday! DB’s team however would not go down quietly in the inning and pushed across three more runs with consecutive hits from Joe Careccia, Mike Kane, and Saidenberg’s second knock of the day. McQ’s team then salted the game away as they batted around in the seventh.

Espada, Brown, Rosen, Parker, McCarthy and Jim McQuade all had multiple hits for McQ’s team while Saidenberg, Alston, PJ Martone and Rick Knipper each contributed multiple hits for DB’s team.

Game two will be played next Wednesday the 28^th so look for our next IN or OUT email message from Donny Ball and reply accordingly. (Photo attached from today, with Tom Bain missing)

Jim

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